THE OBSERVER TO FEATURE NEW YORK TIMES WEEKLY SUPPLEMENT

Guardian News & Media (GNM) today confirmed that The Observer had secured the contract to print an eight-page full colour Berliner-size supplement of the New York Times from the Guardian Print Centre (GPC). From Sunday 11 February, the weekly supplement will be included free with The Observer every week in all copies printed and distributed from GPC.

Joe Clark, Director of Production, Distribution and Circulation, Guardian News and Media, said: "The Observer is fully committed to international news coverage, and this new section will offer, from a US perspective, comment and opinion on significant news stories each week. This represents yet more value to Observer readers. The Observer joins the Sueddeutsche Zeitung, EL PAIS, La Repubblica and Le Monde in distributing The New York Times International Weekly. This network is represented for advertising sales by The International Herald Tribune, which is owned by The New York Times.

Cristian Edwards, President, The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation, said: "We are delighted to have The Observer join the EuroReach Network. Together these newspapers reach the globally aware, culturally active, business-involved readers of Europe. We look forward to working with The Observer."

It is owned by Guardian Media Group plc (GMG), one of Britain's leading media companies, which in the year ending 2 April 2006 earned pre-tax profits of £66 million on turnover of £700 million. In addition to GNM its diverse portfolio includes the Manchester Evening News and more than 40 other regional newspapers in the North West and Surrey and Berkshire; five radio stations under the Real Radio and Smooth FM brands; and Trader Media Group, one of Europe's largest specialist media and online companies.

GMG is wholly owned by the Scott Trust, which was created in 1936 to secure the financial and editorial independence of the Guardian in perpetuity.